it would have kept him in the cattle business at a time when beef prices were going through the roof.”
“Let me guess,” Shane said. “You bought it out from under him.”
“That’s right. I went to the owner with cash in hand and an offer of ten percent higher than the asking price. He caved in and let me have it. Two years later I sold it for double what I’d paid. By then, Bert had been forced to sell off most of his herd. His family was living on beans and tortillas, trying to get their bull raising business off the ground. They’ve never forgiven me—not that I give a damn.”
He tossed down the last of his coffee and pushed his half-finished breakfast plate aside. “Let’s go look at a bull. You’re driving.”
* * *
Shane drove Brock’s rented Cadillac Escalade to the rodeo grounds and parked it next to the trailer. Lexie’s rig was a few spaces away, where she’d left it last night. There was no sign that Lexie had been there. He could only hope Aaron Frye had kept his promise to wait for her and see her safely back here.
Climbing out of the vehicle, he tossed Brock the keys. Brock would be here for the rest of the day—wheeling and dealing, meeting with other stock contractors over lunch, checking on his own bulls and going over the rider draws before the start of the competition. After the rodeo, he could drive himself back to the hotel.
With the sun climbing to late morning, they crossed the parking lot and entered the secure complex of pens and chutes that contained the bulls. It was a busy place this morning, with bulls being fed, watered, groomed, massaged with the latest electromagnetic devices and, in general, pampered like Miss Universe contestants.
Gazing across the maze of steel-railed enclosures, Shane was able to spot a few genuine celebrities. Nearby was Fearless, black with a distinctive tan stripe down his back. He was currently number three in world title contention. And in the far corner was a red behemoth named Soup in a Group, weighing in at a full ton. In another pen behind him, was Cochise, a huge tan bull with horns that turned downward to frame his face. Animals like these were PBR royalty, the best among them valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As one of the top contenders, Shane might have been lucky enough to draw one of these bulls, who racked up high points for any cowboy who could stay on them. But Shane had chosen to ride Whirlwind with the less experienced bulls and riders. It was a gamble that might or might not pay off.
Brock nudged him impatiently. “Stop wasting time and show me that damned bull!”
“Over here.” Shane led Brock through the maze to Whirlwind’s pen. The silver-gray bull was in a bad mood, and Shane could understand why. He had a new neighbor in the next pen, a hulking, yellow bull with one downturned horn. Whirlwind was making it clear that he didn’t like the newcomer. He was snorting, pawing the sawdust, and bellowing out challenges. The yellow bull, who had the look of an older veteran, was munching hay, ignoring the unruly youngster next door.
“Whirlwind is rank, I’ll give him that.” Brock was smiling. “I was hoping he might be even bigger, but he’s got plenty of fight. I can’t wait to see him buck.”
“We’ll try to keep you entertained.” Riding Whirlwind had been Shane’s own idea. Brock had taken to it right away, but Shane wouldn’t be riding for Brock. Lexie would be watching from the chutes. He would be doing it for her, to show her what her bull could do with an expert rider.
That, or he was just another fool trying to impress a pretty woman.
“What are you doing? Get away from my bull!” Lexie came charging around the corner of the pens, angrier than a riled hornet. And she headed, not for Brock, but straight for Shane.
“How dare you bring that man here?” She spat fury, looking as if she wanted to draw blood. “You know how I feel about him! You know I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Whirlwind!”
Without waiting for Shane to reply, Brock pushed his way between them. His height and bulk loomed over the defiant Lexie, but she didn’t budge. Shane stepped to one side, prepared to interfere if he had to. Only then did he notice the Hot-Shot Lexie held in one hand. Shane